St Bees' station history

D class lifeboat sent to station in September.

New concrete boathouse constructed.

Framed Letters of Thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, Chairman of the Institution were presented to crew members Ian McDowell and Malcolm Reid in recognition of their meritorious action when they swam from the shore in a north-north-east gale and a rough sea to the yacht Ruffian , aground, about 200 yards from the beach to rescue two men and a boy on 29 August.

Boathouse extended to accommodate the larger C class lifeboat.

D class lifeboat withdrawn and replaced with a C class in September.

Bronze Medal awarded to Senior Helmsman Ian McDowell in recognition of his outstanding leadership, skill and courage when the lifeboat rescued the two crew from the fishing vessel Coeur De Lion on 31 July 1993.  The fishing vessel was stranded on an isolated outcrop of rocks at the north end of Fleswick Bay in a Force 6 Strong Breeze and breaking seas.  Shortly after the survivors were taken off the fishing vessel broke up.  The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum were accorded to Helmsman Alastair Graham for his outstanding skill and courage, and to crew members Marcus Clarkson and Paul McDowell for their courage and determination through out this service.

New boathouse constructed on a new site opposite the old boathouse which provided very little in the way of crew facilities and was of insufficient size to house the future Atlantic 75.  The new boathouse was constructed on three levels and provides a mechanic's store, souvenir sales, and improved crew facilities.

C class withdrawn and replaced by a B class lifeboat on 28 April.
 
HRH The Duchess of Kent opened the new boathouse on 10 October.
 
Atlantic 21 withdrawn and replaced by an Atlantic 75 class lifeboat B719 which was placed on service on 14 December.

The Chief Constable of the Cumbria Constabulary presented his Commendation to Ian McDowell, Paul McDowell, Dave Barker and Dick Beddows of St Bees Lifeboat Station in recognition of their actions on the 8 August recovering two young brothers in difficulty from the sea. Both boys were airlifted to hospital where one sadly died.

A new station Atlantic lifeboat B-831 Joy Morris MBE was placed on service on 7 April.  This lifeboat was funded by North Regional Appeal and Legacies of Mrs Violet Cissie Mayberry and Mrs Joan Margaret Boorman.  B-719 Percy Henry Patmore MBE has been withdrawn.